A research team from the University of Victoria has found the oldest evidence of protein residue on stone tools, including the remains of butchered animals.
Archeologist April Nowell says the discovery reveals surprisingly sophisticated adaptations by early humans.
“We looked at these stone tools under a microscope, looked for the ones that had evidence of the most polish and other kinds of tell-tale signs of use. Then, we sent a very small sample off to have them tested for protein residue.”
Of the 10,000 tools excavated, 44 were selected for testing. In that first sample, there was a positive result for horse. A second round revealed everything from duck, to rhinoceros and wild cattle.
PhD student Jeremy Bellar says, “It basically indicates that despite the harsh climate and the water scarcity of that time, about 250,000 years ago – hominins were still able to acquire large mammals.”
The carnivorous behaviour is nothing new, but now, this discovery provides direct evidence our stone age ancestors were adaptable and capable of taking advantage of a wide range of prey for sustenance.
Bellar says, “We’re constantly finding that behaviour of hominins is much more in depth and much more complex than we’d originally assume.”
“What kinds of technology did they have to have? What kinds of cognitive abilities, social abilities to be able to coordinate all of these resources” adds Nowell. “Everything together really gave us a much richer picture of the abilities of these early hominins.”
Now, the hope is others will use this technique on sites that are as old – or even older – to build on these kinds of behaviors. Connecting the dots with every new discovery.